It’s hard to comprehend the terrifying experiences a young person faces when fleeing conflict, torture and persecution in their home country. This situation becomes even more unimaginable when considering that some of these children will be separated from their families during their challenging journey, or even forced to flee on their own.
Young People Seeking Safety Week (YPSS) runs from 28 March – 3 April 2011; it aims to bring attention to the issues facing unaccompanied young people seeking asylum in the UK. YPSS also provides an opportunity to learn about the experiences of these young people through music, film, and photography.
The campaign is a diverse network of individuals and organisations who have joined together to promote the rights and safety of unaccompanied young people seeking asylum in the UK. Community groups across the UK, including in Glasgow , will host events throughout the week.
Get involved
The Young People Seeking Safety website provides insight into the experiences of young person seeking asylum in the UK, features some of their personal stories, and highlights petitions and campaigns that you can join.
Information and advice for young people
We have produced an informative welcome pack for young unaccompanied asylum seekers living in the Glasgow area. The pack is also a useful reference tool for adults supporting these young people. It provides current general information about Glasgow and specific information about:
- making an asylum claim;
- rights;
- a glossary of useful terms;
- a directory of some of the relevant organisations supporting young people; and
- several pull out maps referencing places in Glasgow, a step-by-step of the asylum process and an outline of people who support young unaccompanied children seeking asylum.
The free welcome pack is available to download chapter-by-chapter from our website in English, Farsi, French, Pashto and Somali.
In need of safety and protection
In an earlier blog Safety an essential human right, I was amazed by the three child refugees’ buoyant spirits and resolve to make new lives in the UK.
And though refugee children have so often demonstrated incredible resilience, we must remember that unaccompanied young people are alone in the UK without parents or family carers, have been forced from their countries and are in need of safety and protection.
